Color mixing system



Nov. 9, 1943.

H. E. AMUNDsoN 2,334,055

coLoR mm1@ SYSTEM Filed oct. 27, 1941 Patented Nov. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE* l 2,334,055 l Y coLoR MIXING SYSTEM Harvey E. Amundson, Chicago, Ill.` l Application October 27, 1941, Serial No. 416,771` 1 claim. o1. 221-78) My invention relates to a color mixing system including a special color orpigment container and while mainly adapted for the painting industry, I reserve all rights for the use of the system and container in other industries.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel coloring system in which the coloring matter or pigment for a given quantity or volume of paint for all colors, shades, tints or hues will be supplied n small containers or vials which will be iilled at the factory so that any desired color may be purchased in quantity required for mixing a certain volume of paint to be mixed by the consumer or user with white paint rather than at the manufacturers end, thus requiring only that cans of white paint be kept in stock in conjunction With the containers for the pigments thus economizing in storage space and obviating the necessity of keeping a large supply of cansA of paint of different colors in stock and permitting a wider variety of colors to be obtained for use as well as releaving theshortage of tin paint containers and conserving on tin for national defense. l

In accordance with the present inventiony in order to makev the paint color mixing system workable I have invented a special color container each of which will contain enough liquid, semiliquid or powdered color pigment to tint a speced amount of white paint and this amount will be printed on the label of the color container. Each label will have a number which will correspond with a number on the color chart which will show the color of the paint after having added the contents of the color container and the pigment properly mixed with the white paint to give the final product for use. Also, thequantity of White paint that each container will color to give the required tint will also be printed on the label of the color container and this quantity strictly adhered to in order that the order of the paint will properly correspond with the color desired from the color chart using all of the pigment in the container. The invention therefore also embodies in addition to the novel color mixing system, of a, simple and cheap container which may be easily filled with the pigment and readily discharged therefrom into the can of white paint to be mixed for use. Thus, by selecting a container or cylinder'bearinga number which will correspond to a number of a certain color on a color chart which indicates the quantity of white paint which it will color to correspond with the color or tint selected on a color chart and following directionsV inv mixing, any color ofl paint may be produced. This obviates the necessity of carrying all colors of paint in cans in stock as it is only necessary to carry the white paint in cans to be colored as desired. This, permits van unlimited number of different colors or tints to be obtained whereas with the old system it has been entirely too costly for a paint manufacturer to stock its outlet stores with morethan 10 or 20 tints or colorsof any one line of` paints such as at, `gloss or stipple paints or enamel, since it was not only too expensive but the storage space required is prohibitive.

In connection with the presentinvention Ythe containers filled with thepigment will take up a very small space and a hundred or more dilierent tints or colors of each line are possible lthus giving a much Wider variety of tints or colors for use bythe consumer. y

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specication, 4reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a color or pigment container in accordance with my invention and showing the manner of expelling the coloring matter or pigment therefrom.

Fig.v 2 is an enlarged section of the container with the plunger in elevation.

Fig; 3 is an end view showing -the stopper end.

Fig-l is a longitudinal section of the pigment sealing and expelling means for the container.

Fig. 4a is a section on the line lla-'4a of Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a modified form of the pigment container. v

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the device shown in Fig. 5 and illustrating the manner of expelling the pigment from the container.

Fig. 7 is a large longitudinal section at right angles to Fig. 5 looking upwardly.

Fig.` 8 is an end elevation looking at the stopper end, and

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the push plunger or pigment expelling means.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4a inclusive of the drawing, l0 designates an outer shell or cylindrical container which may be an open ended tube of glass, metal or other suitable material or plastic, which may be transparent, translucent or opaque but preferably transparent or some transparent non-breakable plastic composition if not made of glass. The cylindricalbore of the container is indicated at Il and the open ends are designated at I2 and I3.' A plunger .I4 consisting of-a pigment Vexpelling means in which the pigment may be a liquid, semi-liquid or powder is provided to move within the bore II of the container and includes a plunger rod or stem I which subsequently forms a core in the pigment or other material contained within the'tube or container I0 and may be fastened'to a stopper I6 kat one end, the stopper I6 being preferably of rubber, cork or other suitable material. At this end,the rod I5 is flattened as shown at I1 to-provide an en iarged end having opposite shoulders I8..-.to an. chor the same in the stopper I6 which also forms a seal forone end I3 and a handle for operating the plunger and expelling means. The rod is preferably anchored in a metallic or fiber disc IIin which is provided with a slot for lreceiving the flat end I1 of the rod which is thereby in the disc by upsetting the end ofz the rod. A't the opposite` end of the plunger or rod ya. piston I9 is provided consisting of an expelling head for the pigment. This piston. includes-,inner and outerv metallic or 'fihrediscslm :and 2i which aremounted ona flattened portlonlz of the rod I5 of the plunger; the discs having-'elongatedlslots 23 for receiving thev flattenediportion ofthe rod at the md thereof remote from the flattened portion i1. This ilattenedfportion ders. Nagainst Awhich the` discs `Zlabuts. so as to limit the displacement of the piston. headson the rod and anchor the same against'` movement or displacement by'upsetingthe end of'the `fikttened portion 22Y against the outer face-'ol 1the disc 20 asindlcated at 2B.A It should-alsobe noted that the: rubbervor cork. piston :Isl is 1an-ger in diameter and circumference. than 'the produces shouland fingers therewith. The pigment is thoroughly stirred in the paint or the like and is ready for use with the exact color or tint desired.

In the form shown in Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, the container Ill with the bore II and open ends I2 and I3 is also used but in this form'instead of having the stopper and piston permanently connected to the rigid piston rod I5, said parts are normally disconnected. The plunger rod is desigmated at` 21 and has a threaded end Moor other suitable means llor concimg it to the piston.

, as shown is bent radially outwardly bent upon itself in the discs 20 and 2I to insure a: liquidand all' tight twith the bore II and prevent .th'egdiscs' fwm scraping the interior wall. or bore ofithe cone tainerll; l

The coloring. matter orjpigment .iszindicated' at 26 and maybe` in. the form of. a liquid, semi-l liquid or powder and each container will be marked or have the label thereof printed to indicate a. specific amount of white paint-which it will color to agree with thel color givenon a color chart and instead ofindicatingthe color` in words, will also have a number printed thereon which will correspond withk a number Aon the 'color chart. The colors on the chart will show the nal color of the paint after 7havingI added the contents of the color container to a given` volume of white paint and properly mixing the same.v Thus, a large varie-ty of colors, may be kept in stock and will occupy a minimum ofv space. as compare'dto paints of various colors inv cans.

In filling the container with the coloring matter or pigment the plunger is forced into the open endA I3 of the container. until the stopper lis adjacent but spaced. from the said open end. The liquid or semi-liquid color' pigment `is then inserted into or placed in the tube by suitable dispensing machinery just before. the stopper is pressed intoplacek so as to fill the tube as Yshown in Fig. V2 and seal both ends liquid tight form, `In4 expelling the pigment for mixing the samev inl a can of white paint, llnseed oil or neutral body liquid, the user grasps the stopper I6 between the flngers as 'shown-inFlg 1 and pulls the same outwardly while holding the container IIJ between the finger-'sof the other hand" as representedindotted linesinsaidflgure. This draws the; piston or plunger I9. from the open. end I2 toward theend I3. along theboreV IIto expel `the pigment without spilllngorwasting coloringmatter or pigment orsmearingthe handsv thereof in air and to begeasily. removed `the pistony orcplunger it pas Mi-1w" handle 29 and and then oppositel direction across The opposite end is bent to form a the axis of the rod and opposite side although it is to be understood that this handle may be otherwisesuitably formed. A stopper of rubber, cork or the like closes the end I3 of the opened tube III. A' piston 3| also of rubber or cork or other4 resilient cushioning material is placedin the open end 4I2'tovscail tiresome. piston rin addition-to the cushion head-includes a. metaly or like cup 32 which is 'pressed o: damped around the cushion head as shownims. 9 or therdrawing to permanently connect thereto and has an extension 4socket 33 whlchnfnny. be internally thrliddras at MOIQ uw: i u a bythe threaded end'28- ofthe rod or otherwise formed tor connecifon ofithe rod therewith. k1.

In this mun-of theinvtiunthe plunger l# is placed in potion inthe openemd- I 21 oi.'v the' ambi tainer or tube H smidV the htm isilledxwithpigment througnthe ennemi, after which` the container [is `sealed w'lththz" simmer il.. Therad 21: may, be; conveniently montminttwe tlm or containerias hymnsaofcarulvr hand 384 for eomiectmtthesnne tov describi so'thatgwhenzit isdesired to imezthepmnentfor cohoriname paint or 011.30m immer I# n .m-f as ,the the plunger is: pushed into* tube. to `exime! the pigment 26 by grasping the container between theflngerscrone hand andthe handle, with thengers oftheotherfhand all asclaearlivjsllownsmearing the handangeuherewtl the :une as'irrthe.previousimneacrilnmom. l

Thus. it will be their by markmsgor label. ins theA containers- 4z a, numberC to agree; with acertain for; the-v nnmber of` thstgpegtiwlarcolm. 011:1; color chart, and also. ttm-nimmt! .or volume 111i: paint` Withwplhichgit is the' exactr color desired, a. desimhlepandaemdet Golm mixingsysiem is` .providedv for. paints. 'er other liquids whiclci will. eliminate the necessity of oen-1 ryine a large numberot theieansin'swck. it willz be-appai-ent that@ much of oolorsmay be` kept on handmag v space and that a ,much v,lavseiram-1 viderreleu. tion of colors or tints will ,be is.; possible by keepingthe paintsor the litem stmk in cans duetotwiweemmountot. sume quired in; additionV to expense which In accordancev withV the' present systemlimiti .supply ofthe Strick mme outlet: sintesftu 16.01',v

to other liquids orv materials tube ymiixeti immav paint but .that..-it. is enaeoialiy' adapted for the; lmerlel; '.t...l`fc.

to extend beyond thek bore II adjacent tothe 6010K @Ruined In a device of the class described, a transparent v open ended tube, a rod having attened ends, a

stopper fastened to one end, a disc on said end against the stopper and securing the same in position, said stopper adapted to close one end of the tube, a, cushion piston on the other attened end and rigid discs held on said fattened end against opposite faces of the cushion piston, said piston adapted to close the opposite end of the tube with the rod forming a core in the material contained in the tube.

' HARVEY E. AMUNDSON. 

